Lazy day.

 There is a lot that I could be doing today but I'm not.  I'd like to say that I'm resting up for the scads of students who will be seeking advising this week.  The truth is, I am just feeling lazy today.  To my credit, I have thought about what I should do.  Things like cleaning, laundry, sweeping. . . . things like that.  But I think that after I go check on the goats, Dolly Llama and Clover, that I'll come back in and grab one of the books that I picked up from the library today (because today's laziness was premeditated), curl up on the couch and read.  Tomorrow will be my 22 mile run.  Probably.  At least 15 miles anyway.

Tomorrow I'll clean and do laundry. Or at least coerce one of the kids into doing it.  And apparently this is a lazy day for other members of the household.  Even the dogs are doing nothing.  Which really isn't a change from any other day but I just wanted to point out that they support my loafing.

Loaf on.

Give me a break.

When will people quit acting like animals? Actually, that is an insult to animals. Supposedly we humans  have morals.  Many of us have chosen to take marital vows, oaths to do no harm, oaths of office, pledges to do this and promises to do or not do that but yet again and again, those vows, oaths, pledges and promises are broken.

Another incident of abuse hit our local paper today. In what world is this kind of crap not wrong? In what instance can anyone rationalize this type of behavior toward a child? I don't believe that it is a sickness. I don't care what label it is given or if it is listed in the DSM-IV or V or whatever. It is just. plain. wrong. And the perpetrators KNOW that it is wrong. In the name of what? Sex? You've got to be kidding me! If people were only as willing to risk everything for the right kind of stuff, this world could be a pretty awesome place. 

Frankly this all is just really tiresome. I'm tired of hearing about these stories drone on and on and on, being debated by every armchair lawyer in the county.  People on this side, people on that side. There is no side. Abusing a child (or an animal or any human being) is wrong. It should be dealt with. End of story. People who commit these kinds of acts have made a choice. They have made the decision to be dealt the consequences in exchange for doing something they know is wrong. There shouldn't be any long drawn out deliberation. There shouldn't be a 3 month wait from the time someone is convicted until they are sentenced. I'm tired of having to worry about our kids because of a few depraved adults who really need to be put behind bars forever. No excuses, no parole, nothing. Gone. They've violated the safety of society and they should be put away in a community of like minded individuals - just like themselves. Let the rapists, murderers, and perverts mingle and do as they like with each other. Stay the heck out of our world.

I'm tired of living in a world where innocent children are an endangered species.  I'm tired of living in a world where to give a hug to a child just because you are proud of him/her or care about him/her is suspect.  As really, it needs to be.  Just because there are horrid little cretins living amongst us who have taken it upon themselves to do what makes them feel good at the expense of children and society as a whole.

I'm tired of excuses and I am tired of resources going to defend/prosecute these demons while money for education is being drastically reduced.  

I don't think we really need to worry about global warming.  We are killing ourselves.

Need some help here.

Exactly one month from today is the US Air Force Marathon in Dayton, OH.  I am still raising funds for the Fisher House.  You can click here to donate and to read more about this cause that I've chosen in memory of my dad.  You need to scroll down to the bottom for the DONATE  button.  Or you can email me for more information.

This is a very special cause for me as I've written about in the blurb below.  Please consider donating.

In Memory of my father, retired USAF Major Joseph W. Arnold who left this world on May 22, 2012. I am raising funds for Team Fisher House Running under the wings of my dad. The military has been a huge part of my life, first my father and then my daughter, a veteran of the Iraqi war. Because of this tie and to help myself deal with the catastrophic pain of my dad's death, I've decided to run the USAF marathon and to raise money for cause benefiting the families of our military. Fisher House Foundation builds "comfort homes" on the grounds of military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful time - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.

A week at the beach.

 Last week's stay at the beach was exactly what was needed.  It was a girls' week - my mom, two of my daughters, and me.  It has been a heck of a year so far.  A year of change.  And much of the change has not been good.

I know my mom had a great time. And she deserves it.  She loves the ocean.  There really isn't much to say about last week other than it was the most peaceful,most wonderful time spent with my mom.  I know there will be rough times ahead: for my mom, for my brothers, for me.  But I need to remember that there are still some really bright spots and those fun times will come more and more often.

 There's nothing like the ocean to make you realize how very, very small we are.  It's really humbling.  There's nothing like a long barefoot run on the beach to bring one back to reality.  No cell phone, no head phones.....just the sound of the waves pounding against shore and the sound of the gulls and sandpipers.  It has been an amazingly soul-cleansing experience.

And we will do it again next year.

I'm partial to the rocky coast of Maine but I think my daughters and my mom really enjoyed the warmth of the North Carolina water.  I think though, that either place will serve the same purpose.  We have 51 weeks to decide.